1
as in to put
to arrange something in a certain spot or position
just lay the book over there on the table for now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to impose
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty
state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to prepare
to make ready in advance
she's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to spread
to put a layer of on a surface
the mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
7
as in to ascribe
to explain (something) as being the result of something else
an electrical fire that was laid to faulty wiring
Synonyms & Similar Words
8
as in to bury
to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea
lay the corpse to rest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in ballad
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
she sang a short lay in dedication to her husband
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in work
the activity by which one regularly makes a living
my main lay is as a general contractor, but I do side work as a carpenter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in godless
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of lay
Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 17 May 2026
Mahudhee was laid to rest in full military honors at a funeral ceremony in Malé, where thousands paid their respects including President Mohamed Muizzu, tourism and military officials, and foreign ambassadors.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Both memoirs prepare the lay gambler for a world of gruelling, bruising defeats and unglamorous back-of-the-envelope calculus.
—Dan Piepenbring, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay
Verb
Along with being practical for the summer sun, bright neutrals are an instant way to make your outdoor space feel laid back and breezy.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 17 May 2026
Mahudhee was laid to rest in full military honors at a funeral ceremony in Malé, where thousands paid their respects including President Mohamed Muizzu, tourism and military officials, and foreign ambassadors.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Adjective
Yet, even as Aleys’s world begins to change with the rise of lay literacy, those lay people are almost entirely men.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Both memoirs prepare the lay gambler for a world of gruelling, bruising defeats and unglamorous back-of-the-envelope calculus.
—Dan Piepenbring, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lay
Verb
-
Her team quickly put together a plan to help coördinate repairs, secure new electrical generators, implement a triage system, and organize trainings for staff.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
The Bengals, who at one point trailed 6-1, put the game on ice with eight runs in the bottom of the sixth.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Check the facts, ask one clarifying question, and let real information settle your nervous system.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
In a social media era rife with mouthwatering food content, kids will no longer settle for a drab school meal.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Although no criminal charges have been filed against Diaz, MLB’s personal conduct policy allows the league to impose significant discipline regardless of the legal outcome.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
The Council last year passed legislation imposing significantly more restrictions on outdoor dining compared to the loose regulations allowing restaurants to participate with few barriers during the pandemic.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Injuries, new player adaptation and recruitment focusing on technical players while the rest of the league prepared for a fight.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
The potential costs of not preparing adequately are eye-watering.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The Islamic Center of San Diego's director and imam, Taha Hassane, pleaded with the public to spread tolerance and love instead of hate.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
-
The staffers, who are spread across more than twenty front- and back-end departments, are organizing under the name Seattle Art Museum Workers United (SAMWU) under the auspices of the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME Council 28.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The story draws from real-world reports of underground death-betting circles documented in Taiwan.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
Sell the car in Vegas and bet all the money on one spin of the roulette wheel.—
Kristin Shaw,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Investors in BDCs rely on the values ascribed to the loans, since there is no active market where the assets trade.—
Olivia Fishlow,
Fortune,
17 May 2026
-
Most traditional mass media outlets ascribe to the one-way dissemination model of science communication.—
Prodromos Yannas,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The text card at the close of the episode notes that between 1980 and 1988, more than 200,000 Iranians were killed during the war, while over 15,000 Iranian political prisoners were executed and buried in mass graves.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
Actor Billy Gardell, a Pittsburgh native, walks a new security guard through it all with the schedule buried at the end.—
Teresa M. Walker,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lay. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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